Binder



W. M. CHILDS Jan. 31, 1933.

BINDER Filed June 14, 1932 Patented Jan. 31, 1933.

, UNITED STATES PATENT orrica waster M. onrLnsor ELDORADO, KANSAs;assrenon TO LORENE w. onxnnsior I ELDORADO, KANSAS BINDER Applicationfiled June 14,

This invention relates to a binder designed primarily for loosely anddetachably filing or binding of physicians prescriptions, but it is tobe understood that a binder, in accordance with this invention may beemployed for any purpose for which it is found applicable, and theinvention has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter setforth, abinder including means for .extension through and for couplingthereto, in a loose-like manner, a prescription sheet or other leaf andwith such means so constructed and arranged toprevent the tearing ofsheet or leaf when'coupling it to the hinder,'or.whenreference is hadthereto after being filed. I A further object of the invention is toprovide, ina manner as hereinafter set forth, a binder ofthe classreferred to including sheet or leaf fastener orf coupling elements,soconstructed and arranged, to prevent the uncoupling of a coupled sheetor leaf under normal conditions. I

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a. manner ashereinafter set forth, a. binder of the loose-leaf type with sheet orleaf fastening orcoupling elements, each including a coupler of-inverted U-shape form, having the body thereof of concave-cross sectionto provide a 1 rounded surface to ride against the edge of the apertureof a sheet or leaf to prevent the tearing of suchedge when filing orbinding the sheet or leaf and when reference filed To the aboveendsessentially, and to others which-may hereinafter appear, the invention 0invention as claimed.

consists of such parts, and such combination of parts which fall withinthe scope of the In the drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view of abinder, in accordance with this invention, the binder being illustrated.as in open position.

Figure 2 isa cross sectional view of the binder when extended andfurther showing a plurality of sheets or leaves coupled thereto.

Figure3 is a fragmentary view in vertical section of the binder closedand having coupled thereto a series of sheets or leaves.

is had to the latter after being.

1932. Serial No. 617,192.

of coupling or fastener element employed.

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of the coupler forming a part of thecoupling or fastener element. I

The binder comprises a body part 1 formed from a rectangular web of anysuitablematerial scored at two spaced parallel points to provide a pairof hinges 2, 3,.an outer or front; cover portion 4, an inner or rearcover portion 5 and a back edge portion 6. The cover portion 4 is ofless width than cover portion 5.- Secured to the outerface of edgeportion 6 and extended upon the inner marginal portion of the outer faceof each cover portion is a reinforcing member 7 of anysuitablelnaterial. The portions 4 and 5 are joined by the hinges 2,3'respectively to the portion 6.

The binder maybe formed with one or more coupling or fastener elementsfor connecting thesheets or leaves to be filed to the body part 1, andby wayof example, two of such elements are. shown as coupled to theportion 6 in opposed spaced relation. The

coupling or fastener elements, hereinafter termed coupling elements areof like form, and the description of one will apply to the other. Each.coupling element comprises a rectangular plate 8 positioned against theinner face of portion 6 and provided at the 7 end of each end edgethereof with a bendable securing barb 9- therefor which is passedthrough portion 6 and bent against that face thereof concealed by member7. The barbs 9 are interposed between portion 6 and member 7 when thecoupling element is anchored in position to the body part1. The sideedge 10 of plate 8, intermediate its ends, is formed tion,

tour. The arm 14 is of greater length than arm 15 and is integral withplate 8. The arm 15 when in normal position has its lower end arrangedin spaced relation with respect to the plate 8. The lower end of arm 15terminates in a flat triangular shaped supporting lug 17 which extendsinwardly at right angles to arm 15 and acts as a means to prevent undernormal conditions the disconnecting of a filed sheet or leaf 18 and inthis connection see Figure 2. The lug 17 is spaced above plate 8 toprovide a passage 19 for the insertion of a sheet or leaf to be filed.The sheets or leaves are formed with openings 20 corresponding in numberto the number of coupling elements employed.

The strap-like part of coupler 13 is of con cave-cross section at anypoint substantially throughout to form a rounded inner surface 21 whichrides against the edges of the openings 20 and spaces the side edges ofsuch part from the edges of the openings. This arrangement prevents theside edges of said strap-like part from coming in contact with andprevents the tearing of the edges of the openings in the sheets orleaves when the latter are shifted upon the coupling element orelements.

l/Vhen the binder has been filled to the extent desired, the coupler isdepiessed'to have the lug 17 arran ed in the in'cut portion 11. SeeFigure 3. lfihen the lug 17 is arranged in incut portion 11,'the space19 is eliminated and the sheets or leaves are locked in so that none canpossibly slip off. The coupler is constructed of such material that ifit is absolutely necessary to remove any sheets or leaves it can be soshaped to permit suehremoval by opening the binder and by remaking space19. The incu't portion 11, although shown of semi-circular 'contour,eanbeof any desirable contour suitable to receive lug 17. Although theplate 8 of the coupling element is shown anchored to back edge portion 6by the barbs 9, it is to be understood that plate 8 can be anchored inany suitable manner and that the means shown is but one embodiment ofanchoring the pl'ate8 stationary.

What I claim is g 1. A binder comprising, a body part formed of a hingedfront cover portion, a hinged rear cover portion and a back edgeportion, a plate anchored against the inner face of said back edge poranupstanding coupler for connecting sheets or leaves with said body partand including an upstanding inverted U-shaped strap-like part formedwith an arcuate'topextending across the plate and a pair of sides, oneof said sides being integral at its lower end with one side edge of theplate and the other of said sides having its lower end spaced from theplate, and a flat lug spaced above the plate and integral with andextending inwardly at right angles to the lower end of the said otherside of said straplike part.

2. A binder comprising, a body part formed of a hinged front coverportion, a hinged rear cover portion and a back edge portion, a plateanchored against the inner face of said back edge portion, an upstandingcoupler for connecting sheets or leaves with said body part andincluding an upstanding inverted U-shaped strap-like part formed with anarcuate top extending across the late and a pair of sides, one of saidsides eing integral at its lower end with one side edge of the plate andthe other of said sides having its lower end spaced from the plate, aflat lug spaced above the plate and integral with and extending inwardlyat right angles to the lower end of the said other side of saidstrap-like part, said plate having its other side edge formed with acutout, and said strap-like part being depressible to position said lugin the cutout.

'3. A binder comprising, a body part formed of a hinged front coverportion, a hinged rear cover portion and a back edge portion, a plateanchored against the inner face'of said back edge portion, an upstandingcoupler for connecting sheets or leaves with said body part andincluding an upstanding inverted U-shaped strap-like part formed with anarcuate top extending across the plate anda pair of sides, one of saidsides being integral at its lower end with one side edge of the plateand the other of said sides having its lower end spaced from the'plate,a flat lug spaced above the -plat'eand integral with and extendinginwardly at right anglesto the lower end of the said other side of saidstrap-like part, and said strap-like part being of concave contour intransverse cross section at any point substantially throughout itslength to provide the inner face thereof rounded.

4. A binder comprising, a body part formed of a hinged front coverportion, a hinged rear cover portion and a. back edge portion, a plateanchored against the inner face of said back ed ge portion. anupstanding coupler for connecting sheets or leaves with said body partand including an upstanding inverted U-shaped strap-like part formedwith an areuate top extending across the plate and. a pair of sides, oneof said sides being integral at its lower end with one side edge of theplate and the other of said sides hav ing i s lower end spaced from theplate, a fiat lug spaced above the plate and integral with and.extending inwardly at right angles to the lower end of the said otherside of said strap-like part, said plate having its other side edgeformed with a cutout, said strap-like part being depressible to positionsaid lug in the cutout, andsaid strap-like part being of concave contourin transverse cross section at any point substantially throughout itslength to provide the inner face thereof rounded.

5. A binder comprising, a body part formed of a hinged front coverortion, a hinged rear cover portion and a hack edge portion, a plateanchored against the inner face of said back edge portion, an upstandingcoupler for connecting sheets or leaves with said body part andincludingan upstanding inverted U-shaped strap-like part formed with anarcuate top extending across the plate and a pair of sides, one of saidsides being integral at its lower end with one side edge of the plate,and the other of said sides having its lower end spaced from the plate,a flat lug spaced above the plate and integral with and extendinginwardly atright angles to the lower end of the said other side of saidstrap-like part, said plate having integral bendable spaced means forextension through and for bearing against the outer face of said backedge portion for anchoring the plate to the latter, reinforcing meanssecured to the outer faces of the said portions, and said front coverportion being of less width than said rear cover portion.

6. A binder comprising, a body part,

formed of a hinged front cover portion, a hinged rear cover portion anda back edge portion, a plateanchored against the inner face of said backedge portion, an'upstanding coupler for connecting sheets or leaves withsaid body part and including an upstanding inverted U-shaped strap-likepart formed with an arcuate top extending across the plate and a pair ofsides, one of said sides being integral at its lower end with one sideedge of the plate and the other of said sides having its lowerend spacedfrom the plate, a flat lug spaced above the plate and integral with andextending inwardly at right angles to the lower end of the said otherside of said straplike part, said plate having its other side edgeformed with a cutout, said strap-like part being depressible to positionsaid lug in the cutout, said plate having integral bendable spaced meansfor extension through and for bearing against the outer face of saidback edge portion for anchoring the plate to the latter, reinforcingmeans secured to the outer faces of the said portions, and said frontcover portion being of, less width than said rear cover portion,

7. A binder comprising, a body part formed of a hinged front coverortion, a hinged rear cover portion and a ack edge portion, a plateanchored against the inner face of said back edge portion, an upstandingcoupler for connecting sheets or leaves with said body part andincluding an upstanding inverted U-shaped strap-like part formed with anarcuate top extending across the plate and a pair of sides, one of saidsides being integral at its lower end with one side edge of the plateand the other of said sides having its lower end spaced from the plate,a flat lu spaced above the plate and integral with extending inwardly atright angles to the lower end of the said other sideof 'saidstraplikepart, said strap-like part being of concave'contour in transverse crosssection at anypoint substantially throughout its len thto provide theinner face thereof roun ed, said plate havingintegral bendable spacedmeans for extension through and for hearing againstthe outer face ofsaid backedge por tion for anchoring the plate to the latter,reinforcing means secured to the-outer faces of the said portions, andsaid front cover portionbeing of less width than said rear coverportion. I V

8. A binder comprising, a body .part formed of a hinged front coverportion, a hinged rear cover portion and a back-edge portion, aplateanchored against: the inner face of said back edge portion,"anupstanding coupler for connecting'sheets'or leaves with said body partand including an upstanding inverted U-shaped strap-like part formedwith an arcuate top extending across the plate and a pair of sides, oneof said sides being integral at its lower end with one side edge of theplate and the other/of said sides having its lowerend spaced fromthe'plate, a flat lug spaced above the plate and integral with andextending inwardly at right angles to the lower end of the-said otherside of said strap-like-part, said plate having its other edge formedwitha cutout, said strap-like part being depressible to position saidlug in the cutout, said strap-like partbeing of concave contour intransverse cross section at any point I substantiallythroughout itslength to provide the inner face there/of rounded, said plate havingintegral bendable spaced means for extension through and for hearingagainst the outer face of said back edge portion forv anchoring theplate to the latter, reinforcing means secured tothe outer faces'of thesaid portions, and said front-cover portion being of less width thansaid rear cover portion. I

A binder, comprising, a body part formed of a'hinged rfront'cover'portioma hinged rear cover portion and aback edge portion, one ormore plates anchored against the inner face of said back edgeportion andeach cutout at one edge thereof, an upstanding coupler of strap-likeform for-extending through sheetsor leaves to connect the latter withsaid body part, said coupler having one end integral with an edge of aplate opposite th at edge formed with a cutout and its outer endarranged over the cutout and free of connection to the plate, a flat lugintegral with and extending inwardly from the free end of the coupler,said lug being normally arranged in spaced relation to the plate toprovide an entrance passage for the sheets or leaves to be positioned onsaid coupler, and

said coupler being depressible to eliminate said passage and to positionsaid lug in said cutout thereby locking the sheets or leaves to: saidbody part.

10. :A binder comprising, a body part formed of a hinged front coverportion, a hinged rear cover portion and a back edge portion, one ormore plates anchored against the inner face of said back edge portionand each cutout at one edge thereof, an upstanding coupler of strap-likeform for extending through sheets or leaves to connect the latter withsaid body part, said coupler having one end integral with an edge of aplate opposite that edge formed with a cutout and its outer end arrangedover the cutout and free of connection to the plate, a flat lug integralwith and extending inwardly from the free end of the coupler, said lugbeing normally arranged in spaced relation to the plate to provide anentrance passage for the sheets or leaves to be positioned on saidcoupler, said coupler being depressible to eliminate said passage and toposition said lug in said outout thereby locking the sheets or leaves tosaid body part, and said coupler being of concave contour in crosssection to provide the inner face thereof rounded.

11. In a binder, a fixed coupling element for sheets or leaves, saidelement including a plate having a cutout, an upstanding coupler ofstrap-like form for connecting the sheets or leaves tothe plate andhaving one end integral with the plate and its other end normallyarranged in opposed spaced relation to said cutout, and a flat lugintegral with and extending inwardly at right angles to the free end ofthe coupler, said lug normally spaced from said plate to form a'normallyopened entrance passage for the sheets or leaves, and said coupler beingdepressible for positioning said lug in said cutout to eliminate saidpassage and to lock the sheets or leaves to said element. v a

12. In a binder, a fixed coupling element for sheets or leaves, saidelement comprising a plate having bendable means for anchoring itstationary, an upstanding coupler for loosely connecting sheets orleaves to said plate, said coupler includinga strap-like part formed ofa pair of sides and a top, said top disposed transversely with respectto said plate, one of said sides having its lower end integral with saidplate, the other of said sides having its lower end normally spaced fromsaid plate and a flat lug normally spaced above the plate and integralwith and extending inwardly at right angles to the. lower end of thesaid other side, and said strap-like part being of concave curvature intransverse cross section.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.

WESLEY M. OHILDS.

